Compact Discoveries

Series produced by Fred Flaxman

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One-hour unusual, audience-appealing, theme-driven classical music programs.

Compact Discoveries (R) is a series of one-hour, classical music radio programs, which, true to its title, introduces listeners to some of the most exciting and unusual compositions to be found on compact discs.

The approach is relaxed, informal and light. The presenter -- award-winning writer/producer Fred Flaxman -- shares his love of music and sense of discovery like one friend talking to another.

Fred sometimes uses humor, sound effects, personal essays, clips from old-time radio programs, and non-classical music to make his theme-based hours interesting and fun. The music is always carefully selected to appeal to the widest possible audience for classical music and to attract new listeners to the genre.

Fred's amusing themes range from "Brazilian Beats" and "Discs for Dishwashing" to "Musical Gardens" and "Best Music for Back Rubs." The programs often feature little-known composers who have written pieces that people will like on first hearing, such as Ernesto Nazareth, Kurt Atterberg, Rene Touzet, Clara Schumann, Cecile Chaminade, Tyzen Hsiao and Joaquin Nin.

Maximum scheduling flexibility is achieved by considering these programs as one-hour building blocks. They can be scheduled one or more times a week; they can be scheduled back to back to create two or three-hour blocks. Fred doesn't say "this program" when he's talking; he says "this hour," making stacking easy. Also, the program/hours are evergreens, except for those created for specific holidays and seasons of the year.

The series began as a local program on WXEL-FM, West Palm Beach, Florida. It was quickly picked up for national distribution via satellite by one of the nation's most prestigious radio syndicators. The series switched to less expensive, more convenient PRX distribution via the internet on Jan. 1, 2006.

Broadcast by stations from Manila in the Philippines to Eugene, Oregon, to West Palm Beach, Florida, the response of listeners has been 100 percent positive. For more information, including short descriptions and complete scripts for each program, go to www.compactdiscoveries.com.

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Compact Discoveries (R) is a series of one-hour, classical music radio programs, which, true to its title, introduces listeners to some of the most exciting and unusual compositions to be found on compact discs.The approach is relaxed, informal and light. The presenter -- award-winning writer/producer Fred Flaxman -- shares his love of music and sense of discovery like one friend talking to another.Fred sometimes uses humor, sound effects, personal essays, clips from old-time radio programs, and non-classical music to make his theme-based hours interesting and fun. The music is always carefully selected to appeal to the widest possible audience for classical music and to attract new listeners to the genre.Fred's amusing themes range from "Brazilian Beats" and "Discs for Dishwashing"... Show full description


253 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
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Music inspired by the stories of Tristan and Isolde, Orpheus and Euridyce, Pelléas and Mélisande and Daphnis and Chloé

Bought by KENW, KALW, KUCO, KENW, KUCO and more


  • Added: Jan 19, 2009
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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Music by Tchaikovsky, Berlioz and Prokofiev inspired by Shakespeare's drama.

Bought by WMNR, KENW, KALW, KUCO, KENW and more


  • Added: Jan 12, 2009
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 10
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This serious composer's lighter side is featured in this hour.

Bought by WMNR, KENW, KTRL, WTIP, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX and more


  • Added: Dec 22, 2008
  • Length: 57:56
  • Purchases: 18
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Producer/host Fred Flaxman demonstrates that all the great tunes were not written by long-departed composers.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU, WCNH-LP and more


  • Added: Dec 12, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 8
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The tuneful, folk-based music of Charles Camilleri.

Bought by KENW, KENW, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WMRT and more


  • Added: Nov 25, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 9
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Classical music inspired by reveries.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WCNH-LP, Jason Holland, WMRT and more


  • Added: Nov 03, 2008
  • Length: 57:10
  • Purchases: 11
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Classical and classic popular music inspired by dreams.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WCNH-LP, KAMU, WEPS and more


  • Added: Oct 29, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 10
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"Sleigh Ride" and other favorite music of the season written and/or orchestrated by Leroy Anderson.

Bought by Vermont Public, WUAL, Northeast Indiana Public Radio, WVRU, KENW and more


  • Added: Oct 22, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 17
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Classical music, semi-classical and jazz inspired by the sun.

Bought by KSVR Studios: Skagit Valley Radio, KENW, KENW, KUCO, KENW and more


  • Added: Aug 05, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 14
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The tuneful music of Russian composer Dmitri Kabalevsky.

Bought by WMNR, KENW, KENW, KAMU, KWAX and more


  • Added: Jul 24, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 11
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A second hour of classical, classic pop and jazz inspired by the moon.

Bought by KUCO, KENW, KAMU, KWAX, WCNH-LP and more


  • Added: Jul 17, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 11
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Music inspired by moonlight throughout the ages.

Bought by Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, WVRU, KUCO, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jul 11, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 12
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Honoring the master of the short orchestral piece on the 100th anniversary of his birth.

Bought by KENW, KAMU, KWAX, WCNH-LP, WRTU and more


  • Added: Jun 25, 2008
  • Length: 57:30
  • Purchases: 10
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Hot classical music and popular classics inspired by fire and smoke.

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KUCO, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: Jun 20, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 12
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Another hour of great music by this Romantic Russian composer.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: May 29, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13
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An hour of tuneful music by Russian composer Alexander Glazunov.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KAMU and more


  • Added: May 22, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 12
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Classical compositions by a composer more famous for his film scores.

Bought by WMNR, KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, KWAX and more


  • Added: Apr 21, 2008
  • Length: 59:00
  • Purchases: 14
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Music by Gershwin, Copland and Piston.

Bought by KPVL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KWAX, KAMU, WPVM 103.7 and more


  • Added: Mar 28, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 11
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Beautiful string quartets by "the Spanish Mozart."

Bought by KUCO, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KENW, WQUB 90.3 FM, KAMU and more


  • Added: Mar 17, 2008
  • Length: 57:00
  • Purchases: 9
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An hour of beautiful piano music by a talented young French-American artist.

Bought by KUCO, WUAL, Eclectic 89.1 WBCX, KWAX, WCNH-LP and more


  • Added: Mar 08, 2008
  • Length: 58:00
  • Purchases: 13